Intro: When attending Mass on Sundays, Solemnities and Holy Days of Obligation, the

congregation joins together in reciting a Profession of Faith after the homily. This is also known
as the Creed.
POWERPOINT:
A Creed is a set of words used as a formal statement of faith. It says what a person or group
believes in, and helps express the identity of the group. Comes from the Latin word credo,
meaning “I believe”. 
DISCUSS:
So, we can certainly say that the Creed is something which we believe and hold to be true.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church …

POWERPOINT:

“Whoever says ‘I believe’ says ‘I pledge myself to what I believe.’ Communion in faith needs a
common language of faith, normative for all and uniting all in the same confession of faith.”

DISCUSS:
The Catechism goes on to say that the Creed is a “sign of recognition and communion between
believers…a summary of the principle truths of the faith.”

The Church, in her wisdom, has selected two different Creeds that can be recited during the
Mass: the Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed. The instruction of the Missal states, “Instead of the
Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed (Nicene Creed), especially during Lent and Easter time, the
baptismal Symbol of the Roman Church, known as the Apostle’s Creed, may be used.” The
decision of which Creed to use is up to the priest and the local ordinary (bishop).

Today we shall tackle the differences and the similarities of the Nicene Creed and the Apostles’
Creed. And yes, the 2 creeds have differences like its origin and its purpose wordings but one
purpose.

According to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal…

POWERPOINT:

“The purpose of the Symbol or Profession of Faith or Creed is that the whole gathered people
may respond to the Word of God proclaimed in the readings taken from Sacred Scripture and
explained in the Homily.” (excerpt from the GIRM, 67)

DISCUSSION:
That’s the reason why it is placed right after the Homily. For us to respond to the Word of God
that we heard before proceeding to the Liturgy of the Eucharist and receive Jesus that truly
present in the Most Holy Sacrament in the Altar.
Now, let’s proceed to their differences…
ORIGIN OF THE CREED:
Apostles’ Creed:
A formula containing in brief statements, or "articles," the fundamental tenets
of Christian belief, and having for its authors, according to tradition, the Twelve Apostles. each
of the Apostles contributed one of the twelve articles. The Apostles’ Creed is traditionally linked
to being written by the apostles, hence its name. Throughout the Middle Ages, it was generally
believed and accepted that the Apostles’ Creed was composed jointly by the twelve Apostles in
Jerusalem, before going out to preach the Gospel. This legend dates back to the 4th century.

Discuss:
Throughout the Middle Ages it was generally believed that the Apostles, on the day of Pentecost,
while still under the direct inspiration of the Holy Ghost, composed our present Creed between
them, each of the Apostles contributing one of the twelve articles. Today, this is a point of
argument and debate. Nevertheless, many continue to think of this creed as apostolic in nature
because its basic teachings are agreeable to the theological formulations of the Apostolic Age.
The Catholic Church does not hold a position one way or the other on this subject; however, it
does hold that all of the points of the Apostles’ Creed are part of the Catholic Faith. The
Catechism asserts that we can rightly call it the Apostles’ Creed not because the apostles wrote
it, but because it is “rightly considered to be a faithful summary of the apostles’ faith.”

Over history, the Apostles’ Creed functioned in many ways in the life of the Catholic
Church:

 In the early Church, it was a confession of faith necessary for those to be baptized.
 Catechetical instruction was based on the major tenets of the Creed. This was necessary,
because many of the new Christians were not able to read and write; this, almost poetic,
Creed was easy to memorize and make part of everyday life.
 In time, the Apostles’ Creed became a “rule of faith” to clearly separate the true faith
from heretical deviations. The principle heresy that was challenging the Church at the
time the Creed was written was Gnosticism, which denied that Jesus was truly man.
 By the 6th or 7th century the Creed had come to be accepted as a part of the official
liturgy of the Church.
 Finally, it was used, along with the Lord’s Prayer, by devout individuals as a part of their
morning and evening devotions.
Nicene Creed:
Created by the council of Nicaea in 325. The Council of Nicaea was the first general council of
the Church since the Apostolic Council of Jerusalem, which set conditions for Gentiles to join
the Church. The Nicene Creed was originally formulated at the 1st Ecumenical Council of the
Catholic Church held in Nicea in AD 325 and was later amplified, adopted and authorized as
a true expression of the Faith at the 2nd Ecumenical Council in Constantinople in AD 381.

DISCUSS:
Roman persecution of Christians had just ended 12 years earlier, but now the Church was
divided over the question of Jesus' divinity. It was the product of the first two Ecumenical
Councils in the history of the Church; The 1st and 2nd Council of Nicaea.
The First Council of Nicaea was held in modern-day Turkey in the year 325. The primary issue
of the council was asserting the divinity of Jesus. Thus, this Council gave us lines about Jesus
like: “God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten not made,
consubstantial with the Father.” But it didn’t give us the finished product that we pray today.
Over fifty years later, the Second Ecumenical Council was held in Constantinople (modern day
Istanbul) in 381 AD. As a complement to the Council of Nicaea, this council made a point to
assert Jesus’ humanity. It used the Creed approved at Nicaea and expanded on the descriptions of
Jesus’ birth and Passion: “by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried.”
Constantinople also added significantly to the last half of the Creed, which recites what we
believe [Take note] ‘we believe’ about the Holy Spirit, “the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds
from the Father and the Son.” And it added the final stanza on the “one, holy, catholic, and
apostolic Church,” along with references to baptism, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of
the dead, and eternal life.
The Assyrian and Oriental Orthodox churches use the profession of faith with a variation in the
pronoun and verbs in the plural. That is, “we believe”. The Catholic and Eastern Orthodox
churches, on the other hand, convert the noun and verb to singularity and use “I believe” instead.
The Nicene Creed that we profess today is the finished version of what was begun in 325 at the
council in Nicaea and finished in 381 in Constantinople.
So sinabi ng isang Heretics led by a priest named Arius in Alexandria, Egypt, na kung begotten
son si Jesus he was just like like every other part of God's creation – therefore, Jesus was not
fully God.
If you focus on the word “JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER part of creation” meaning Jesus have
sinned? Jesus have lived his life like us yes. but expect SIN always remember that.
LANGUAGE USED:
Apostles Creed:
Earlier manuscripts were written in Latin
Discuss: Symbolum Apostolorum or Symbolum Apostolicum The Apostle’s Creed has a
widespread acceptance in the Christian church. Also called the Apostolicum.

Nicene Creed:
It was produced in Greek
Discuss: Why is it written in Greek? Because Nicaea an ancient Greek city in northwestern
Anatolia and is primarily known as the site of the First and Second Councils of Nicaea.

DIFFERENCES IN WORDING
 The Apostle’s Creed begins with “I Believe” while the Nicene Creed originally uses “We
Believe”.
 The wording “descended into hell” is recited in the Apostles’ Creed but is absent in the
Nicene Creed.

Similarities:
- Both are creeds. Both the Nicene Creed and the Apostles’ Creed share the quality of
being a creed of the Church.
- Both are called “Profession of Faith” since they summarize the faith that Christians
profess.
- Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed are a belief statement
- Both has the same purpose.
Though Both Creeds have differences, they help us today to attain and deepen our
faith at all times.
- The Nicene and Apostle’s creed have the same concept which is to profess our faith
to Jesus Christ.
- Both are fundamentally Trinitarian.
The Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed divided into three parts: "the first part
speaks of the first divine Person and the wonderful work of creation; the next
speaks of the second divine Person and the mystery of his redemption of men; the
final part speaks of the third divine Person, the origin and source of our
sanctification." These are "the three chapters of our [baptismal] seal". (CCC, 190)

“This Creed is the spiritual seal, our heart's meditation and an ever-present guardian; it is,
unquestionably, the treasure of our soul.”
-St. Ambrose (The teacher who converted and baptized St. Augustine of Hippo)